NWO

Take-off Phase 1 – Feasibility Studies

Up to €60,000| Deadline: 10 December 2026 (88 days)|Up to 6 months

14:00 CET; continuous submission until deadline or until maximum 5 batches (200 applications) reached

Last updated: 29 Jul 2026

Closes 10 Dec 2026. Add it to your calendar, then see what else you're eligible for. See my matches →

NWO Take-off Phase 1 funds feasibility studies for commercialising innovative research across all scientific fields, with grants up to €60,000 over six months. The call is open to researchers at Dutch universities, UMCs, KNAW/NWO institutes, and partner institutions, and targets projects exploring product, process, care, or service innovations with commercial potential. Up to 200 applications are assessed in batches of 40, with 15 funded per batch.

Details

Funder	NWO
Budget	Up to €60,000
Deadline	10 December 2026
Duration	Up to 6 months
Consortium	No
Application	Single stage; applications assessed in batches of 40, with 15 funded per batch (max 5 batches)
Frequency	Annual
Eligible countries	NL

Eligibility & scope

Feasibility studies for commercial application of innovative knowledge from Dutch universities, UMCs, KNAW/NWO institutes, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Max Planck Institute Nijmegen, NCB Naturalis, ARCNL, or Princess Máxima Center. Applicants must be researchers at these institutions. Covers product, process, care, or service innovation across all scientific fields.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers at NWO-eligible Dutch institutions (universities, UMCs, KNAW institutes, and designated research centres)
•Project teams exploring product, process, care, or service innovation with commercial application
•Early-stage commercialisation ideas needing proof-of-concept work
•Researchers across all scientific fields with innovation potential

Key Dates

•Deadline: 10 December 2026, 14:00 CET; continuous submission until reached 200 applications (5 batches of 40)
•Single-stage application; assessed in batches with 15 funded per batch
•Project duration: up to 6 months

Tips for Applicants

✓Applications are assessed in rolling batches of 40 (max 5 batches); submitting early does not confer advantage, but the call closes at 200 applications total, so budget and timeline accordingly.
✓Use ISAAC for submission; ensure your host institution is on the eligible list before preparing the application.
✓Frame the feasibility study as a bridge to commercial viability, panels want clarity on how six months of work reduces risk for a follow-on development phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the NWO Take-off Phase 1 grant pay?

Up to €60,000 per project.

How long is the NWO Take-off Phase 1 project?

Up to 6 months.

Can I apply to NWO Take-off Phase 1 if I'm at a Dutch university?

Yes, if your institution is a Dutch university, UMC, KNAW/NWO institute, or one of the designated research centres (Netherlands Cancer Institute, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics Nijmegen, NCB Naturalis, ARCNL, Princess Máxima Center).

How many applications does NWO Take-off Phase 1 fund?

Up to 75 projects across five batches of 40 applications (15 funded per batch).

nwotake-offcommercialisationfeasibility-studyinnovationearly-stagenetherlands

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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.